American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 267 A Morning with Blushing Ears (Hey, please vote for me!)
After speaking, McCormick leaned back on the sofa, feeling somewhat exhausted, and dared not look Lin Yu'an in the eye.

She felt as if she had just walked naked in front of the person she trusted most, and shame and insecurity washed over her like a tidal wave.

She even began to regret revealing this secret that she hadn't even dared to write in her diary.

Just then, Lin Yu'an picked up the bottle of Laphroaig whiskey, tilted the bottle, and slowly poured the amber liquid into her empty glass, adding some for herself as well.

"Shameful?" he finally spoke, his voice calm and gentle. "Why would you feel ashamed?"

McCormick looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with confusion.

“Because…this isn’t normal.” She was somewhat incoherent. “I should be like everyone else, going on dates, falling in love, figuring out who I really am…”

"No." Lin Yu'an interrupted her, handing the wine glass back to her with a clear and firm gaze.

"McCoz, do you really think a scientist who can decode the genome of a polar bear wouldn't even know his own sexual orientation?"

This question, like a key, instantly unlocked McCormick's chaotic thoughts. She was stunned, and for the first time, a glimmer of light beyond confusion flashed in her eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is, it's not that you don't understand, it's that you refuse to be defined by those simple labels."

He looked into her eyes, which were slightly wide with shock, and continued, "This world is always in a hurry to label people: straight, gay, bisexual..."

"It's as if everyone has to be crammed into a pre-set box. But you're not, McCormick. You're a scientist, and it's your nature to explore the unknown, not to accept the known."

"You feel confused not because you have a problem, but because the ready-made, narrow answers are simply not worthy of your complexity."

He picked up his cup and gently swirled it.

"As for not having been in a relationship at 26..."

"This is not a social disability; you just have too high standards. What you need is not a simple boyfriend or girlfriend, but a partner who can resonate with your soul."

"A person who understands your world and can explore the unknown alongside you. Until you find that person, any compromise is a desecration to you."

He raised his glass to her.

“So, it’s not a shameful secret at all, McCormick.” His voice carried a calming quality.

"On the contrary, this proves that you possess an extremely precious soul that refuses to compromise."

McCormick stared at him blankly, his mind completely blank for a few seconds.

She had imagined all sorts of reactions from Lin Yu'an: comfort, sympathy, or even estrangement.

But she never dreamed that he would interpret her years of confusion and self-doubt as a noble perseverance in such a soul-searching way.

He did not judge her, define her, or try to "solve" her problems.

He simply told her that her confusion stemmed from her excellence.

In that instant, something hard within her quietly shattered, and a warm current she had never felt before surged up, making her eyes uncontrollably warm.

For the first time, she felt that her loneliness, her sense of being out of place and out of place, could be understood and even appreciated.

McCormick blinked hard to suppress the wetness, then she raised her newly refilled glass and clinked it heavily against Lin Yu'an's glass.

This time, she said nothing.

But she knew that from this moment on, the man in front of her was completely different in her heart.

It even gave her the wonderful feeling that he understood her.

It's unclear who collapsed first, or who was the last to turn off that dim floor lamp. The aftertaste of Laphroaig was far richer and more lingering than its initial smoky flavor.

McCormick was awakened by a ray of morning light piercing through the blinds.

She felt as if she were trapped in an incredibly warm and solid heat source.

The first second she regained consciousness, she smelled a faint scent, a mixture of the lingering aroma of whiskey and the smell of clean clothes and soap.

Then she felt an arm resting steadily on her chest, and her cheek pressed against a chest that rose and fell smoothly with her breathing.

She and Lin Yu'an, like two animals warming each other in the cold winter, slept in each other's arms on the carpet in front of the sofa.

Fortunately, both of them were still dressed neatly.

McCormick didn't dare move; she even held her breath. She could clearly hear his steady, powerful heartbeat, "thump, thump, thump," like a primal lullaby.

Even through the thin fabric of his clothes, she could feel the astonishing heat emanating from his body.

A strange, unprecedented emotion surged through her body like an electric current. The book said that when you meet someone you like, your heart races and you blush.

Her heart was indeed pounding like a drum, but she wasn't sure if it was from shock or something else.

She carefully, like defusing a bomb, removed herself from his arms and tiptoed into the bathroom.

The woman in the mirror had the same calm expression as always, even looking a little pale from a hangover. She breathed a sigh of relief. See, it's not a big deal.

But when she brushed the stray hairs from her ear, she froze.

Her ears, from her earlobes to her auricles, were so red they looked like they were about to bleed.

McCormick stared at the uncooperative red stain, and for the first time felt a complete sense of unfamiliarity with his own body, which he had studied countless times, along with a touch of helpless amusement.

She splashed cold water on her face to wake herself up completely. Then she took out a brand new set of disposable toothbrushes and towels from the cabinet and neatly placed them on the sink where Lin Yu'an would see them.

After doing all that, she went into the kitchen and began preparing breakfast.

As a meticulous scientist, her breakfast resembled an experimental procedure: two slices of whole-wheat toast, an avocado, and an egg from the refrigerator. Precise and efficient, but utterly devoid of soul.

Lin Yu'an was awakened by a slight clattering sound of pots and pans.

He opened his eyes, his brow furrowing at the headache from the hangover. He looked around, seeing familiar bookshelves and an unfamiliar ceiling, and fragments of memory began to slowly piece together.

He remembered whiskey, secrets, and... In the end, it seems the two of them just sat there on the sofa chatting and then blacked out.

Lin Yu'an sat up and saw McCorz's busy figure in the open kitchen. He jokingly raised his voice and asked.

“Hey Dr. McCormick, your wine from last night wasn’t expired, was it? I feel like my brain was trampled by a herd of deer.”

McCormick turned around, holding a perfectly sliced ​​avocado, a teasing smile on his face: "Let me think, that bottle of wine is probably from the same year as your birthday."

"Oh, so it's expired." Lin Yu'an concluded, and staggered towards the bathroom.

When Lin Yu'an finished washing up and came out feeling refreshed, McCorz had already placed breakfast on the small dining table.

Lin Yu'an stared at the plate in front of him, lost in deep thought.

A slice of toast topped with a few slices of avocado, and a single hard-boiled egg lying forlornly beside it. That's all. A survivalist breakfast, to say the least.

"What's wrong?" McCormick asked, puzzled. "It's healthy; it provides good fats and protein."

Lin Yu'an looked up at her, then at her incredibly functional kitchen, and suddenly smiled: "Wait for me for ten minutes."

Without waiting for her answer, he walked straight into the kitchen and glanced around. His gaze finally settled on a paper bag. "Flour?"

"Yeah, I tried to make pizza last time, but it failed."

Are there any eggs left?

"In the refrigerator."

"Where are the vegetables?"

“…That’s all we have.” McCorz pointed to a small bowl of cherry tomatoes on the windowsill.

"enough."

Over the next ten minutes, McCormick witnessed magic.

Lin Yu'an took off his coat, revealing only a dark T-shirt that showed off his smooth and muscular forearms. He skillfully poured flour into a large bowl, added water, and his movements were fluid and effortless.

The kitchen was small, and when he turned to get the eggs, his arm almost brushed past McCormick's body, creating a slight breeze.

McCormick instinctively tried to move aside, but found himself blocked between the kitchen counter and the man, his nostrils instantly filled with the scent of male hormones.

He kneaded the dough, rolled it out, and cut it. Lacking any extra tools, he simply used a wine bottle as a rolling pin.

As he stretched the noodles with both hands, lightly pulling them through the air, some tiny specks of flour flew up, one of which landed on the tip of McCormick's nose.

"Don't move." Lin Yu'an's deep voice sounded above her head.

She froze, only to see him lower his head, extend his thumb, and gently and tenderly wipe away the white spot on the tip of her nose with his fingertip.

His gaze was focused, and he was so close that she could see her own reflection in his dark pupils.

At that moment, time seemed to slow down.

"Okay." He straightened up nonchalantly and continued working, but McCormick felt his ears burning hot again.

On the other hand, cut the cherry tomatoes in half and put them in the pan with the eggs. After a simple stir-fry, you'll have a tempting tomato and egg stir-fry sauce.

When a steaming bowl of handmade noodles with a glistening red broth was placed in front of her, McCormick was completely stunned.

"Taste it."

She picked up a small amount of noodles with her fork and put it in her mouth. The noodles were chewy and smooth, and the sweet and sour taste of the tomatoes and the savory aroma of the eggs blended perfectly together.

That warm and simple deliciousness instantly soothed her stomach, which had been churning from the whiskey all night.

"My goodness..." she exclaimed indistinctly, "Is this Chinese-style pasta?"

Lin Yu'an was amused by her peculiar analogy, shook her head, and offered no explanation.

After a whirlwind of activity, McCormick's phone vibrated; it was an email from her assistant.

Her expression immediately returned to professional as she quickly scanned the page: "Okay, good news, December's mood was stable this morning, and her appetite has returned."

“The bad news is…” she paused, then looked up at Lin Yu’an, “It treats those ten red balls like its own treasures, baring its teeth at anyone who gets close, not even the zookeeper.”

"But this is also a good thing, as it can help it develop the habit of guarding its food, which will greatly help its survival when it returns to the wild."

"In addition, I only told you about the bad situation yesterday. There is another situation that is uncertain whether it is good or bad, so you should also be mentally prepared."

"That means December may not be able to complete the rewilding training. There is a chance of failure in rewilding training, and no one can say for sure. It all depends on December himself."

"Once a comprehensive assessment confirms that it is indeed unable to complete the rewilding training, it will have to spend the rest of its life in an Arctic aquarium."

Upon hearing this, a hint of tender expectation flashed in Lin Yu'an's eyes! But it was quickly replaced by deep worry.

McCormick saw through his thoughts, stood up, and began clearing away the dishes.

"Hey, don't look that worried face from last night again." Her tone was relaxed, yet carried an undeniable firmness.

"Since you've made this choice, you have to accept all the scenery along the way, whether it's sunshine or snow. You have to believe in it, and more importantly... believe in me."

She stopped at the kitchen doorway, holding the plate, and winked at him.

"After all, I am a scientist who is going to create miracles."

Looking into the unwavering light in her eyes, the last trace of gloom that had lingered in Lin Yu'an's heart vanished completely. He leaned back in his chair and chuckled softly.

The smile on her lips deepened; it was a genuine smile. She didn't say anything more, just nodded to him, then turned and walked into the kitchen, leaving him with a capable and resolute back view.

The tap was turned on, and the sound of running water could be heard.

After breakfast, McCorz went to work, while Lin Yu-an set off to return to Wiesman.

He put on that well-tailored suit jacket, and instantly, the man who had been drinking on the carpet and kneading dough in the kitchen transformed back into the globally acclaimed brand ambassador.

"I have to go." Lin Yu'an looked at McCormick, who was changing his shoes in the entryway. "Their families are still waiting for me."

These two women, after their secret exchange last night, now hold entirely different weight.

McCormick paused in tying her shoelaces, then stood up and said naturally, "I'll walk you to the door."

The two walked out of the apartment building side by side. The cold morning air, filled with the scent of snow, rushed in, instantly clearing their hangover minds.

Lin Yu'an stopped in his tracks next to the rented Ford F150 in the parking lot.

“McCoz,” he turned to look at her, his eyes becoming incredibly serious, “you don’t need to worry about the project funding.”

"If you ever have financial difficulties, just tell me. All you need to do is... do what you promised and create miracles."

"You just need to take care of your complicated family life, Mr. Lin."

McCormick laughed too, and she retorted jokingly. In a lighthearted way, she completely sealed away last night's secret.

She reached out her hand to him.

Lin Yu'an was slightly taken aback, then extended her hand and shook hands with her. Her hand was not as soft as she had imagined; her palms bore thin calluses from years of experimentation, and her handshake was crisp and firm.

“So, project partner,” she said.

“Partner,” he replied.

There was no hug, no extra farewell. After letting go, Lin Yu'an opened the car door and got into the driver's seat.

McCormick didn't leave immediately; she just stood there, arms crossed, watching him quietly.

Lin Yu'an started the car, and as he drove out of the parking lot, he glanced at it in the rearview mirror. That resolute figure was still standing there, like a lighthouse.

He looked away, stepped on the gas, and drove the car toward Anchorage International Airport.

After returning the rented F150 pickup truck, Lin Yu'an did not enter the main terminal building, but went to the other side of the airport, to an area specifically for small private planes to take off and land.

(End of this chapter)